The agreement signed by representatives of TRENDS Global and Liwa University establishes a framework for collaborative studies, resource sharing and academic events focused on strategic issues, according to a WAM report. It aims to deepen research ties while promoting the exchange of expertise between the think tank and the higher education institution in Abu Dhabi. The partnership will target key areas including innovation, sustainable development and policy-oriented analysis that align with national priorities.
A WAM report on the development indicated that the MoU will facilitate joint projects, workshops and publications to advance mutual goals. Both organizations will engage students and researchers in practical initiatives designed to bridge academic work with real-world applications. The accord reflects growing emphasis on such alliances to support evidence-based decision making in the region.
TRENDS Global has pursued multiple academic partnerships in recent years, with similar memorandums concluded with the American University of Sharjah in May 2023 and Abu Dhabi University in the same period, according to institutional records. Those earlier agreements centered on specialized studies, surveys and opinion polling that produced reports on economic and geopolitical matters. The latest arrangement with Liwa University extends this approach to new collaborative opportunities.
Liwa University has actively expanded its network of alliances, including a memorandum signed with the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom in March 2026 to support professional development, its official announcements show. The Abu Dhabi institution, which maintains a five-star rating in the QS system, focuses on applied research within its academic programs. Integration of the new partnership with TRENDS Global is set to amplify these efforts through shared projects and knowledge transfer.
UAE efforts to build research capacity have driven gross domestic expenditure on research and development to 1.5 percent of GDP by 2021, World Bank data shows. Partnerships between think tanks and universities form a core element of this strategy by aligning scholarly pursuits with policy and industry needs. The TRENDS Global and Liwa University agreement represents another step in fostering an innovation-driven environment across the country.
The WAM report noted that the MoU includes mechanisms for student participation in joint research and the hosting of specialized seminars. Both parties anticipate outcomes that will contribute to broader academic discourse and practical solutions in priority sectors. Implementation of the agreement is expected to commence with initial planning sessions in the coming months.
